Industrial technology is a broad field, spanning manufacturing industries as diverse as electronics, aerospace, instrumentation and plastics. Some certificate programs in industrial technology prepare students for machinery and equipment maintenance, while others provide the skills necessary to assist industrial engineers. The kind of job you'll get with a technical certificate in industrial technology largely depends on the type of program you choose.

Mechanic

A general certificate in industrial technology typically qualifies you for jobs as an industrial mechanic or maintenance worker, diagnosing problems and maintaining and repairing industrial equipment. Available through two-year colleges and technical schools, general technical certificates have a broad scope that prepares you for the evolving nature of manufacturing. The coursework typically includes mechanics, hydraulics, electricity, computing, manufacturing processes and drafting. Because these programs train workers to actually fix machines, internships are often an important part of the curriculum.

Specialist

Some industrial maintenance jobs require specialization in a particular area, such as hydraulics or air conditioning. As a result, some technical schools and colleges offer specialty certificates to train students to maintain one particular type of equipment. As options to a general certificate, Indiana's Ivy Tech Community College offers one-year industrial technology certificates in five specialties -- heating and air conditioning, fluid power, industrial machining, industrial electricity and structural welding.

Engineering Technician

Some certificate programs in industrial technology prepare students to work as industrial engineering technicians, helping industrial engineers make manufacturing more efficient. For example, Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio offers a one-year certificate in manufacturing/ industrial engineering technology with specialization in quality control. The program prepares students for entry-level work as an industrial engineering quality control technician and includes classes in engineering drawing, machine tools, manufacturing, quality control and engineering economics.

Expected Pay

Your wages with a technical certificate in industrial technology largely depend on your training and type of job. Industrial machinery mechanics earned an average full-time salary of $48,690 in 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Wages of industrial engineering technicians were typically higher, averaging $53,100 per year.

Outlook

The BLS predicts that jobs for industrial mechanics will increase 22 percent between 2010 and 2020, higher than the 14 percent on average for all jobs. Workers with broad skills will have the best chance of continued employment. Openings for industrial engineering technicians will increase only 4 percent during the decade, but their skills are easily transferable to a wide variety of industries. Mechanics and engineering technicians can improve their chances of advancement by completing an associate degree.